Latest news with #ClareClough
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pret targets small-town Britain with launch of slower-paced cafes
Pret A Manger is to serve freshly made food on porcelain plates at sit-down cafes as it expands into small-town Britain. The London-headquartered chain has announced plans to trial new cafes that feel more like restaurants than takeaway shops, with food prepared to order behind a counter. Clare Clough, the chain's UK boss, said Pret wanted to become more of 'a destination for customers in a bit less of a rush who want a comfortable space to enjoy delicious food and spend time with family and friends'. Though widely known for its prevalence in London and its popularity among commuters, Pret has in recent years been focusing on suburban and remote areas – forcing it to adapt its stores to appeal to older customers and families, instead of busy workers. This month, it will open two cafes in Dundee and Maidenhead featuring more comfortable seating, a new menu and fewer fridges. Instead of chilled baguettes, the new sites will sell more hot products such as meatball and red pepper tapenade subs and sourdough toasties. While customers will be served food on porcelain crockery, they will still have to collect their orders from the counter in a manner similar to rivals such as Costa Coffee and Gail's. The focus on suburbs and more remote areas comes after Pret's city centre stores struggled during the pandemic and, since then, with the rise of working from home. More than 80pc of the sites it has opened since 2023 have been outside of London. The strategy has paid off, with Pret's revenues topping a record £1bn in 2023. A push to grow the business internationally in Europe and the US has also borne fruit after New York became its second-highest-grossing city outside London. However, it has struggled to stay profitable and faced criticism for raising prices. The chain has also come under pressure from both cheaper rivals and more expensive competitors in its London heartlands following the pandemic, spurring it to consider how it can broaden its appeal. Simon Stenning, hospitality industry expert and director of Future Foodservice, said: 'The competition has expanded, providing Pret customers with more options and more choice. 'And they're being challenged at the value-end of the spectrum with Greggs increasing their presence in London. 'I think it is Pret realising that, given their predicament of becoming very expensive for products which are better than standard but still fall a little short of the alternatives that are available to consumers, they need to shift the dial. 'You're not comparing a baguette from a chilled Pret cabinet with a baguette from a Greggs or a Sainsbury's cabinet now. What you're doing is comparing it to a baguette made freshly for you in a nice cafe environment or a bakery.' In 2015, the chain trialled evening meals at its flagship site on London's Strand. Called 'Good Evening with Pret', it sold wine and beers alongside a menu of small plates. The idea was never rolled out more widely. Last week, it emerged that JAB Holding, Pret's Luxembourg-headquartered private-equity backer, had appointed advisers to explore options for the chain, including a potential stock market float or bringing in another investor to shore up its finances. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Pret-A-Manger picks Scots store to trial brand new service
Read on to find out what the changes will be Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PRET-A-Manger has picked a Scottish store to trial a brand-new service - and locals will love it. The popular sandwich chain is trying out a new format in a bid to accelerate its major expansion plans across the UK. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Bosses have announced plans for a new format inside stores Credit: Getty 3 And it is set to be trialled inside a Scottish store Credit: Reuters Pret opened its first shop in London in 1986 and the chain employs 12,500 staff in more than 700 locations across 21 countries. But bosses have chosen the branch in Broughty Ferry, just outside of Dundee, to be among the first locations to trial the new format. The cafe on Brook Street, alongside another in Maidenhead, Berkshire, will give fans a taste of what other stores could be like in the future. If it is successful, the format will be rolled out in other branches across the UK. According to the Scottish Daily Express, the new style will offer made-to-order food and will have more dining space. This is different from the current design, which focuses on a grab-and-go style for customers. It would mean that customers would be able to take their time and would encourage them to dine in instead. Staff would also be encouraged to rush less when serving punters, as opposed to the current model, which sees everyone served in less than a minute. It is hoped that the new method will create a more relaxed environment. Bosses at Pret have also revealed that a new, exclusive menu would also be on offer as part of the new format. 'Smells incredible' I got £25 worth of Pret a Manger goodies for just £4 - the bag weighed an absolute tonne And there will also be a Little Stars Cafe play area for families with young children. It comes as bosses aim to expand the firm to more locations outside of London, with already 500 outlets now open across the UK. Clare Clough, Pret's managing director for UK and Europe, said: "Throughout the past five years, we've made it a priority to bring Pret to more people. "Whether you're a city worker commuting to the office, a parent juggling work and family life, or someone catching up with friends. "Now, we're taking that further, making Pret a destination for customers in a bit less of a rush who want a comfortable space to enjoy delicious food and spend time with family and friends. "Our teams have been hard at work making sure everything from the shop design to the unique menu items have been carefully thought through and we can't wait to see how our customers respond."
The Independent
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Pret a Manger trial new store format to lure in more customers
Pret a Manger is introducing a new store format with made-to-order food and larger dining areas to accelerate regional growth across the UK. The new format aims to create a relaxed dine-in atmosphere, catering to the rise in remote working, and is being tested in Broughty Ferry and Maidenhead. Unlike most London stores that focus on "grab-and-go" service, the new shops will feature an exclusive menu, more dine-in space, and a play area for families. This initiative is part of Pret's strategy to expand beyond London, with most recent openings located outside the capital. Clare Clough, Pret's managing director for UK & Europe, stated the new format is designed to be a destination for customers seeking a comfortable space to enjoy food and spend time with family and friends.
Telegraph
8 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Pret targets small-town Britain with launch of slower-paced cafes
Pret A Manger is to serve freshly made food on porcelain plates at sit-down cafes as it expands into small-town Britain. The London-headquartered chain has announced plans to trial new cafes that feel more like restaurants than takeaway shops, with food prepared to order behind a counter. Clare Clough, the chain's UK boss, said Pret wanted to become more of 'a destination for customers in a bit less of a rush who want a comfortable space to enjoy delicious food and spend time with family and friends'. Though widely known for its prevalence in London and its popularity among commuters, Pret has in recent years been focusing on suburban and remote areas – forcing it to adapt its stores to appeal to older customers and families, instead of busy workers. This month, it will open two cafes in Dundee and Maidenhead featuring more comfortable seating, a new menu and fewer fridges. Instead of chilled baguettes, the new sites will sell more hot products such as meatball and red pepper tapenade subs and sourdough toasties. While customers will be served food on porcelain crockery, they will still have to collect their orders from the counter in a manner similar to rivals such as Costa Coffee and Gail's. The focus on suburbs and more remote areas comes after Pret's city centre stores struggled during the pandemic and, since then, with the rise of working from home. More than 80pc of the sites it has opened since 2023 have been outside of London. The strategy has paid off, with Pret's revenues topping a record £1bn in 2023. A push to grow the business internationally in Europe and the US has also borne fruit after New York became its second-highest-grossing city outside London. However, it has struggled to stay profitable and faced criticism for raising prices. The chain has also come under pressure from both cheaper rivals and more expensive competitors in its London heartlands following the pandemic, spurring it to consider how it can broaden its appeal. Simon Stenning, hospitality industry expert and director of Future Foodservice, said: 'The competition has expanded, providing Pret customers with more options and more choice. 'And they're being challenged at the value-end of the spectrum with Greggs increasing their presence in London. 'I think it is Pret realising that, given their predicament of becoming very expensive for products which are better than standard but still fall a little short of the alternatives that are available to consumers, they need to shift the dial. 'You're not comparing a baguette from a chilled Pret cabinet with a baguette from a Greggs or a Sainsbury's cabinet now. What you're doing is comparing it to a baguette made freshly for you in a nice cafe environment or a bakery.' In 2015, the chain trialled evening meals at its flagship site on London's Strand. Called 'Good Evening with Pret', it sold wine and beers alongside a menu of small plates. The idea was never rolled out more widely. Last week, it emerged that JAB Holding, Pret's Luxembourg-headquartered private-equity backer, had appointed advisers to explore options for the chain, including a potential stock market float or bringing in another investor to shore up its finances.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pret targets small-town Britain with launch of slower-paced cafes
Pret A Manger is to serve freshly made food on porcelain plates at sit-down cafes as it expands into small-town Britain. The London-headquartered chain has announced plans to trial new cafes that feel more like restaurants than takeaway shops, with food prepared to order behind a counter. Clare Clough, the chain's UK boss, said Pret wanted to become more of 'a destination for customers in a bit less of a rush who want a comfortable space to enjoy delicious food and spend time with family and friends'. Though widely known for its prevalence in London and its popularity among commuters, Pret has in recent years been focusing on suburban and remote areas – forcing it to adapt its stores to appeal to older customers and families, instead of busy workers. This month, it will open two cafes in Dundee and Maidenhead featuring more comfortable seating, a new menu and fewer fridges. Instead of chilled baguettes, the new sites will sell more hot products such as meatball and red pepper tapenade subs and sourdough toasties. While customers will be served food on porcelain crockery, they will still have to collect their orders from the counter in a manner similar to rivals such as Costa Coffee and Gail's. The focus on suburbs and more remote areas comes after Pret's city centre stores struggled during the pandemic and, since then, with the rise of working from home. More than 80pc of the sites it has opened since 2023 have been outside of London. The strategy has paid off, with Pret's revenues topping a record £1bn in 2023. A push to grow the business internationally in Europe and the US has also borne fruit after New York became its second-highest-grossing city outside London. However, it has struggled to stay profitable and faced criticism for raising prices. The chain has also come under pressure from both cheaper rivals and more expensive competitors in its London heartlands following the pandemic, spurring it to consider how it can broaden its appeal. Simon Stenning, hospitality industry expert and director of Future Foodservice, said: 'The competition has expanded, providing Pret customers with more options and more choice. 'And they're being challenged at the value-end of the spectrum with Greggs increasing their presence in London. 'I think it is Pret realising that, given their predicament of becoming very expensive for products which are better than standard but still fall a little short of the alternatives that are available to consumers, they need to shift the dial. 'You're not comparing a baguette from a chilled Pret cabinet with a baguette from a Greggs or a Sainsbury's cabinet now. What you're doing is comparing it to a baguette made freshly for you in a nice cafe environment or a bakery.' In 2015, the chain trialled evening meals at its flagship site on London's Strand. Called 'Good Evening with Pret', it sold wine and beers alongside a menu of small plates. The idea was never rolled out more widely. Last week, it emerged that JAB Holding, Pret's Luxembourg-headquartered private-equity backer, had appointed advisers to explore options for the chain, including a potential stock market float or bringing in another investor to shore up its finances. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
